Mainly the owners are at fault for this serious disease

Most cats only see a doctor when a disease has already developed. But with proper information and attention, the harm could be prevented.

Diabetes in cats – although less common than in dogs – is an increasingly common problem among our pets. Without proper treatment, diabetes can quickly lead to a rapid deterioration of the animal’s condition. Still, with the right care the kitten will need medication for the rest of their life. It is therefore important that owners do all they can to prevent the onset of diabetes. But in most cases, they don’t even think their pet could be in danger because of a lack of knowledge.

Improper feeding is an important factor

One of the most common causes of diabetes, like in humans, is poor diet. According to veterinarian Dr Andrea Kövess-Bodó, there are serious gaps in owners’ knowledge about what they put in their cat’s bowl.

I find that cat owners are almost completely unaware of the composition of the food. The price of the product and the cat’s acceptance are the main factors that determine the decision when it comes to choosing food.

But it is very important that they read the ingredients of the food before feeding it to the animal. For example, many wet foods contain sugar, which the cat does not need at all from a nutritional point of view. And in the case of dry feeds, the meat content of the product is not the same.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so cereals, for example, are not really part of their diet. Consuming them in small amounts is not harmful, but in the long term, a high-grain diet is just empty calories and excess carbohydrate intake, which can contribute to obesity.

Once we’ve made a mistake, it’s hard to change

The vet also highlights an important feature of the kittens’ dietary habits: once they get hooked on a taste, it is very difficult to change their diet.

Cats tend to have a monotrophic diet. Once they get used to one food, they find it difficult or impossible to accept another. Unfortunately, I rarely meet an owner who chooses food carefully from the very beginning. It is more common to pay more attention when the animal is already sick. This is when people become more familiar with the important details of treatment and nutrition and prefer to buy specific foods after more research.

Switching feeds can be difficult because of the above-mentioned tendencies. It may help, however, to give the new foods to your cat gradually. Mix a small amount into the food they have gotten used to at first, then gradually raise the proportion of new food. This increases the chances that the cat will eventually accept the unfamiliar flavours.

Failure to carry out routine checks

Dr. Andrea Kövess-Bodó also points out that although early detection of diabetes would greatly improve the quality of life of cats and avoid a drastic reduction in their lifespan, unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

The majority of owners do not take the opportunity to have check-ups at least once a year, and only consult a specialist when the animal is so ill that it is showing symptoms.

Cats are less likely to be brought in for screening. It’s more likely to be the symptoms – and long-standing symptoms – that bring them to the vet. The most common complaint is that the animal has lost weight, even though its appetite has not changed.

According to the vet, the incidence of diabetes in cats is increasing. It is most common in housed, obese, neutered male cats. And literature suggests that it is more common in Maine coon and Burmese cats.